Germany Ends Citizen-Led Food Policy Project Despite Clear Proposals

Germany Scraps Pioneering Citizen Assembly on Food Policy Amid Backlash

Germany’s first-ever citizen assembly on food policy has come to an abrupt end. The Bundestag experiment, which ran during the last legislative term, produced clear recommendations—including free school meals and tax cuts on healthy food. But now, the governing coalition has dismantled the project entirely.

The 2023 'Food in Transition' assembly brought together randomly selected citizens to shape policy. Their final proposals included abolishing VAT on fruits and vegetables, introducing a state-mandated food label, and offering free school lunches. These recommendations were formally submitted to Parliament for consideration.

The coalition agreement had initially promised to continue such assemblies. Yet the Union (CDU/CSU) and SPD have made no moves to revive the process. Instead, they removed the term 'citizen assembly' from the 2026 budget, effectively blocking future funding. The Bundestag unit overseeing the project has been dissolved, and its staff reassigned.

Criticism has followed swiftly. Claudine Nierth of the More Democracy association accused the government of 'axing citizen participation' at a dangerous time, warning of rising far-right influence. Ina Latendorf of the Left Party called the shutdown a 'slap in the face' to volunteers who had worked to strengthen democracy. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU), however, defended the decision, arguing that elected representatives—not unelected assemblies—should drive policy.

With the secretariat disbanded and no budget allocated, the future of citizen assemblies in Germany remains uncertain. The 2023 food policy recommendations now sit with Parliament, but no further steps have been taken. The experiment, once hailed as a democratic innovation, has been quietly shelved.